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Are you endeavoring to become the best YOU as a young artist or musician? Mark your calendar now for June 17 – 21 and join us at

A West Coast Convergence of Young Artists & Musicians

Masterpiece Christian Fine Arts Foundation is partnering with The Story church in Ashland, OR to host ASCEND 2019, a four-day artist and musician conference in the heart of Ashland. Young artists and musicians, ages 15-30, from up and down the West Coast will engage in great vision-building, inspiration, and technical instruction by an incredible team of professionally trained and experienced artists and musicians. Participants will gather in morning and afternoon sessions in specific learning tracks, plus engage in morning and evening all group devotions and worship, inspiring featured speakers, and lunches and dinners. This will be a week packed full of inspiring connection and unforgettable community!

ART | MUSIC

With our team of highly experienced, professional artist instructors, you’ll gain a vast range of in-depth, inspirational teaching as you’re guided through these hands-on workshops and discover a broad scope of technical skills, a brief history of the impact of Biblical art throughout history, and the impact artists can continue to have in His story of reconciling people to Himself!

Our team of Spirit-filled professional musicians and songwriters are collaborating to bring a rich learning experience to each individual student, as they will venture through the foundations of music, theory, technical skills, and the importance of music in bringing the Kingdom of God!

$260 — Early Registration before April 15
$250 — Register with a group before April 15 ($10 discount per person)
$280 — Registration after April 15
$270 — Register with a group after April 15 ($10 discount per person)

* Registration fee does not include lodging. See lodging recommendations below.

Masterpiece has reserved lodging at the Ashland Commons Hostel, just within walking distance to The Story. This accommodation is $40/night; reserve a place through the ASCEND 2019 registration form.
Alternatively, Masterpiece has also reserved a block of campsites at Emigrant Lake County Recreation Area, just a 15 minute drive from The Story. This accommodation option is $20/night per site for up to 8 guests–group sites are available. Mention group name ‘ASCEND 2019’ when reserving your place. Contact Emigrant Lake County Recreation Area to book a site (541) 774-8183. Or reserve another fine Ashland lodging establishment of your choosing.

So, you want to be an artist…Don’t just sit there…

Do something!

Journal entry February 16, 2019

This week we were hammered by storm fronts one after another with very cold temperatures and lots of moisture creating very deep snow. The snow was so deep that we were snowed in for two days making it impossible for anyone to make it up to The Grand View Ranch for a campfire or even an evening around our cozy fireplace at the ranch house. I love to rest on my Craftsman couch in front of the fire and sip a cup of homemade cinnamon cocoa with whip cream and marshmallows. I often find myself in quiet thought reflecting on the conversations that I had with my students during the week and think about what I would like to write about to share with you.

The Fragmented Art World

Of all the ideas that came to me, it seemed like it would be most helpful to write about some of the steps that artists should know about before venturing out into the confusing and fragmented art world. Most artists have very little knowledge about how to approach galleries or produce social media, art shows, and art competitions. They may not know how to establish a collector base that they can count on to support them as they launch their art into the art marketplace. In the next few blogs, I will offer my own personal insights from my experiences being in the art world for 40 years and successfully launching my own PBS show. These conversations or Blogs that I’ll be sending have insights that I have shared with students who I coach weekly.

To be Successful Share With Others

I believe if you are serious about marketing your art, it is essential to have a coach who you can check in with every week. I hope that sharing my insights will inspire you experience the exciting journey into the professional art world. To be successful, artists should have the desire to share their art with others. It’s why people create art, after all. If a book is never read, does it even need to be written? Painting is a visual expression of the desire to share with others what you find beautiful, interesting, or of interest to you. Art is communication and in order to communicate, you must have an audience. Building this audience is in itself a business and requires some time to do. So, relax. The fear you are feeling at this moment is actually the feeling of excitement. The two emotions feel similar. Use that “excitement” feeling as you go through your journey. It will make a huge difference in how you market your art. Before we go over the steps that will transform you into a self-promoter of your art, there are some things we need to talk about.

WILL MY ART EVER BE GOOD ENOUGH?

I’m amazed how much fear most artists have when they venture out from the safety of their immediate families and studios with images of their work. Many artists are paralyzed with the thought of posting their art on social networks for the world to see. They are waiting until they create something that is “good enough,” and are constantly reinventing themselves to fit some ideals or invisible goals that they think they need to complete before they can move forward and get their art out of the studio.

These artists are stuck. They are not even making an effort to show their work because the invisible “Not Good Enough” message that screams in their heads gets louder with every improvement they make. And, every improvement they make just opens new conversations that they have so much to learn to be a great artist. GET USED TO IT! YOU WILL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH! There will always be someone better, brighter, or more talented than you. THE TRUTH IS…

The truth is even your worst efforts will be admired because as an artist, you do something of value when others are caught in the trap of quiet desperation, fearing that they are living their lives with little personal value except working and paying the bills. They are afraid to try to do something that might expose that they are frauds to the world. Sound familiar?

To make things worse, the Internet makes it more challenging when

the public is given instant power to like or dislike something – with Thumbs up, Likes. Emojis, and Comments! all out-there in the World Wide Web for the public to see. These instant reactions hit the heart of the artist, confirming what everyone has been saying to you since you where 4, “You’re not good enough to be an artist”, “You’re going to starve… get a real job… do something of value.” After all, “Art is the class you take if you want an EZ “A”.” No wonder art instills fear in anyone wanting to succeed as an artist.

WHAT IF EVERYTHING YOU BELIEVE IS NOT TRUE?

It is the nature of being human that we all want to look good, and we fear looking incompetent or ignorant. From an early age we are constantly trying to do what is good and avoiding anything that might bring negative attention that makes you look bad. Posting your work for others to see or introducing your art to a gallery can be intimidating because of the old tapes in our heads that tell us that we may not be good enough. I am amazed that many of my students have no problem posting daily what they had for dinner or sharing photos of their cats. But, if they are asked to share their art pieces for others to see, they become paralyzed and afraid of what people might think or say. I have worked with students who almost pass out from fear before hitting the “share” button to post one of their paintings.

Lets Start NOW!!!

When students step out of their “fear of sharing” response about their work and start marketing their work to as many eyes as they can find, they are amazed that the response they experience is always positive. They may start first with family members and friends and then market to complete strangers who respond to their work positively. However, before an artist is ready to approach a gallery seriously, there are steps that must be in place before making the first contact, before showing your composition, before having your first show, or approaching a collector, a buyer, or the owner of a gallery. In the next blog I will discuss all the insights artists must have before you go into the public arena and present your art to galleries and collectors. Here are the first steps that you must take before we move on to the next blog.

Get a Web Domain or URL address

Open a Facebook account

Open a Twitter account

Open an Instagram account

Open an Linked in Account

YouTube account

The Must Have

You must have all of these social media accounts and they must all be linked together

Step by Step instructions on linking up these accounts are on YouTube

Next week, you will start stepping out of your comfort zone and begin experiencing the feeling the excitement when sharing your art with the world. It is going to be exhilarating. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I will try to respond as best as I can. [email protected]

Information about coaching is located under the heading Coaching on my website www.StefanBaumann.com. If you are interested in coaching, give me a call at 415-606-9074 (my personal cell number) and we can talk more about how coaching will enhance your knowledge, capabilities, and growth as an artist.

American Pine Martin By Stefan Baumann

I have coached many students over the years. My goal as a coach is to help students discover their own style by instructing with a method that allows them to grow as they are. If you want increase your knowledge and skill to bring your art to the next level, I invite you to watch my YouTube videos, consider phone coaching with me, or attend a workshop in Mt. Shasta where we discuss art, passion and life with other artists around the campfire. All the information is on my website,www.stefanbaumann.com.

Visitors to Medford’s Art du Jour Gallery will find a warm and friendly atmosphere on the third Friday of each month.-Roy Musitelli photo 2/19/16

Art du Jour Gallery, 213 E. Main Street in Medford is exhibiting the watercolor work of Bruce Barnes as guest artist in the Salon through January, while outgoing AdJ member Linda Meerten is graciously fulfilling a commitment to being our January featured artist. Join us for our Third Friday reception 1/18/19, 5:00-8:00 pm. Musical entertainment will be announced on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ArtduJourGallery).

Calling All Artists!!!

As one of downtown Medford’s premiere art galleries, we are now actively seeking new artists living in the Rogue Valley region who would like to join our cooperative and display their work to the Medford community. Membership includes an active role the Art in Bloom festival in May, as well as our monthly Third Friday event. Media to be juried for membership includes pottery, sculpture, photography and jewelry. Contact the gallery by email at [email protected], or log into our website: www.artdujourgallery.com for full membership information.

Guest Artist Bruce Barnes

Bruce Barnes has traveled and painted in Oregon, California, Canada, and across Europe. His sketchbook, paints, and brushes are always part of his pack.

Bruce moved to the Rogue Valley in 2002, where he quickly joined the Rogue Valley art scene. He now paints en plein air with The Artists’ Workshop in Jacksonville, Ashland’s Urban Sketchers, The Rogue River Artists Group, and the OLLI watercolor SIG. He has attended numerous painting workshops, and is guided by his painting icons James Fletcher Watson, David Howell, and Virgil Harton, all Englishmen.

Bruce is a past member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon, was featured in Ashland Magazine, and has been voted one of the favorite artists in Ashland. Dozens of his paintings are now displayed in homes and businesses across the country, with a few in Europe. He created and conducted popular OLLI classes at SOU focusing on plein air sketching and watercolor painting. He has been featured in a dozen or more one-artist showings at Valley galleries and wineries. For more information on this artist he may be reached at his Ashland studio at 541-201-1947.

Featured Artist Linda Meerten

Coastal scene by Linda Meerten. Image provided by the artist

Photographer Linda Meerten loves the beauty that surrounds us and tries to show that in her work. As an opportunistic photographer she is seldom without her camera for stopping along the roadside to capture what she sees. She lives in the mountains of Southern Oregon where wildlife and scenery is abundant. Also a sculptor and oil painter, Linda studied art and art history in Europe.

Born in the Netherlands, Linda came to America as an infant and proudly became an American citizen in 2013 at a swearing-in ceremony held at Crater Lake National Park, part of a special event held across the country. She loves hiking the many trails in the area, fishing the Rogue River and spending time with family.

New Members at Art du Jour

We extend a warm welcome to potter Susan Paul-Williams, as well the return of painter Connie Fribance as newest members of our cooperative. Stop by the gallery to see the works of these two magnificent artists.

Just a heads-up! Due to library availability, Southern Oregon Society of Artists first meeting of 2019 will be the THIRD Monday.

Don’t forget this will be a juried critique and the President’s challenge will be black and white drawings for the 2019 directory. All SOSA members are invited to submit entries and all attendees will be asked to vote for their favorite. Number one drawing will be used for the front of the directory and number two will be used for the back.

Southern Oregon Society of Artists

SOSA invites all two-dimensional visual artists to attend meetings held on the fourth* Monday of each month, January – October at the Medford Public Library at 7:00 pm. Be early – library doors lock at 7:00 pm!

*Due to library availability, Southern Oregon Society of Arts January 2019 meeting will be the THIRD Monday.

By Silvia Trujillo, 305 contributed posts
View all Silvia Trujillo's posts.About the author: With a history in fashion design, Silvia Trujillo has 20 years experience in fine art study, painting, and teaching. She is a master colorist; emphasizing color harmony, and works in impressionist, realist and abstract styles, and teaches plein air and painting workshops. "My goal is to consistently produce paintings that are uniquely original and that express my love of nature." See Silvia's listing at the Southern Oregon Artists Resource to learn more and make contact.

The secret to creating the illusion of great distance in a two dimensional painting is… well you’ll just have to take one of my workshops to find out! This piece was a demo for my Depth and Distance workshop through the Sacramento Fine Arts Center this September.

“Hill Song”
Oil on 12×16″ canvas
$295

The fascinating thing about painting in plein air is that extra elements are incorporated into the work, sometimes without the painter knowing it. Returning to this piece on a cold winter night, I’m transported right back to the lavender fields in Oregon’s Applegate Valley. I smell the sun-baked earth and hear the hum of bees. I wonder: Is there perhaps some lavender pollen embedded in the paint? Is there still a summer breeze wafting from the distant trees? I can feel it. Can’t you?

“Lavender Fields Forever II”
Oil and sunshine on 16×20″ canvas
$495

Sometimes it’s the painter’s job not just to capture the beautiful moments in life, but the difficult ones, too. Here in southern Oregon we survived eight weeks of dense, unhealthy smoke in the late summer and early fall. When the sun did appear it wore this red disguise — like a warning light, asking us to change our ways.

By Silvia Trujillo, 305 contributed posts
View all Silvia Trujillo's posts.About the author: With a history in fashion design, Silvia Trujillo has 20 years experience in fine art study, painting, and teaching. She is a master colorist; emphasizing color harmony, and works in impressionist, realist and abstract styles, and teaches plein air and painting workshops. "My goal is to consistently produce paintings that are uniquely original and that express my love of nature." See Silvia's listing at the Southern Oregon Artists Resource to learn more and make contact.

Every year the Rogue Gallery & Art Center in Medford puts on a Members’ Only Show. They have a great theme for it this year — “Don’t Fence Me In”. The show runs just a couple more weeks, until December 21, so while you’re out there doing your holiday shopping be sure to stop in the gallery and check out all the great art! Eighty members contributed this year, with everything from watercolors and oils to sculptures and photography.

My contribution to the Don’t Fence Me In show, titled Autumn Notes, is pictured below. I went a little bigger than usual for my plein air work, composed it in an abstract style and challenged myself to break out of my usual routines as I painted on a beautiful fall day at a friend’s property south of Ashland.

A Glimpse Behind the Scenes

As a little holiday present to my blog readers, I wanted to take you “backstage” on my plein air process. First, check out this quick video clip of me doing my work. See if you can find the “hidden technique”.

In the picture at right, the painted scene for Autumn Notes is in the background. For the sake of the composition, I removed a few trees and tweaked the perspective.

Have you figured out my hidden technique yet? It’s going barefoot! If you’ve never tried it, you should! Taking off your shoes to paint (or embarking on any creative endeavor) is very grounding. I find that I can immerse completely in the scene I’m painting when my feet are bare.

The final image below is a close-up of the foundational stage for Autumn Notes.

I hope this inspires you to do some plein air painting in the coming year! I plan to host more outdoor classes in 2019 so stay tuned for announcements.

Art du Jour Gallery, 213 E. Main Street in Medford, will be presenting Ruth Heath as featured artist, and Debby Fisher continues to have her stunning display as the guest artist exhibit in the Salon. We will also be announcing the winner of our People’s Choice “Furry and Feathery Friends” contest with the top vote getter on display through the month of November.

Ruth Heath featured artist for November

Ruth Heath began painting at 22 after purchasing some Walter Foster instruction books. After moving to Medford with her family from Southern California she found this to be an inspiring place to live, and began painting with watercolors, acrylics and pastels.

Ruth Heath’s art exhibit at Art du Jour is the inspiration of her travels through Europe. Image provided by the artist.

Her suggestion to new painters is start with pencil sketching or painting with one color and gradually add more. She writes, “As you practice more you will see the things around you in a different light and you will improve. Learn the basics, so your masterpieces will stand the test of time, then be brave and try something different. There are many excellent art teachers in this area and U tube has countless instruction videos.”

Ruth has had the good fortune to have traveled to England, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Greece, Israel and Egypt with family and friends. As a result her artwork often depicts unique architecture, castles, quaint villages and cottages. Though she has also traveled extensively through the United States, Canada and Mexico, this display on our featured wall is primarily European street scenes, windows and doorways. Ruth is an honorary member of the Southern Oregon Society of Artists and a charter member of Art du Jour Gallery.

Debby Fisher guest artist through November

Debby Fisher received her art education from many venues majoring in art education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, studying drawing at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a plethora of workshops along life’s journey. In the mid 90’s, after settling in Oregon with her family, Debby studied commercial art with Semyon Bilmes, who now leads Atelier Maui. After a time in the illustration business, she was drawn back to oil painting through the work of great artists such as Michael Dudash and Chris Hopkins, who she had the privilege of connecting with and learning from through the Masterpiece Christian Artists Conferences. Now doing commissioned pieces and gallery paintings that reflect the beauty God surrounds us with every day, her work is in many private collections across the country.

Debby says, “When I was about 10 years old, I attended my first oil painting class which took place in a little classroom behind a butcher shop in Pittsburgh, PA, and I’ve loved the smell of oils ever since! I like to paint many genres, as you’ll see in this Salon exhibit, from pumpkins to barns to musicians!”

Third Friday November

Join us for our Third Friday reception 11/16, 5:00-8:00 pm. We are now accepting applications for artists who would like to join our cooperative and display their work to the Medford community. Contact the gallery by email at [email protected] for more information.

The Annual Members’ exhibit in the Main Gallery is a favorite for many. You are invited to bring in one piece for this year’s theme “Don’t Fence Me In”. For this year, break through whatever boundaries you like as the title “Don’t Fence Me In” implies. (Though within our constraints of being a current member, and framing and dimensions requirements listed HERE>>) This is one of the few exhibits you can submit a piece that is not for sale.

Annual Members Exhibit – Don’t Fence Me In

Drop-off one piece on the theme “Don’t Fence Me In” on Friday, November 2,10am-5pm and Saturday, November 3, 11:00-3:00 pm. The exhibit runs November 9-December 21, 2018. The reception is Friday, November 16, 2018, 5-8pm. Pick-up is Saturday, December 22, 2018 11am-3pm and Wednesday, January 2, 2019, 10am-5pm.

ELIGIBILITY
•Artists must be current members of the Rogue Gallery & Art Center. They may become a member at the time of drop-off.
• Work is your original art (no reproductions) created within the last two years.
• Photographs and hand-pulled prints are signed.
• Work is in excellent condition (clean mats and frames).
• Work is properly framed and wired for hanging. For safety of artwork, we do not allow saw tooth hangers.
• Watercolors and works on paper must be covered by glass or Plexiglas with no exposed edges (closed frames only). Wrapped canvas is ok.
• Outer dimensions (including frame) are 40” x 40”.
• Please do not submit work that has previously been display in any of our galleries.
• Artist receives 60% of sale price: Rogue Gallery receives a 40% commission of retail sale.

Inspiring Millions to paint outdoors This video is about Touch Move and Inspire. Get a free Book at his website www.StefanBaumann.com. The paintings of Stefan Baumann reveal the true spirit of nature by transporting the viewer to distant lands that have gone unseen and undisturbed. With the huge success of Baumann’s weekly PBS television series “The Grand View: America’s National Parks through the Eyes of an Artist,” millions of people witness for themselves the magic Stefan portrays on canvas, his passion for nature and the American landscape. By distilling his love of nature into a luminous painting of brilliant, saturated color that transcends conventional landscape and wildlife art, Baumann has captured the hearts and imaginations of a generation. Each painting becomes an experience rather than merely a picture – a vivid manifestation of his special and personal union with nature and the outdoor world. Through his mastery of light, color and artful composition, Baumann invites you to experience nature in its purity. It is no wonder that for many years distinguished American collectors, including former presidents and financial icons, have sought out his work.